Game apparatus.



No. 733,850. PATENTBD JULY 14, 1903 G. KOCH & J. FISCHER.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1903.

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UNITED STATE-s Patented July 14, 1903.

CHARLES KOCH AND JOSEPH FISCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 733,850, dated July 14, 1903.

' Application filed ma 17, 1903. Serial No. 143,765. (no man.)

To all whom, it may-concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES KOCH and- JOSEPH FISCHER, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the cityof New York,

borough of Manhattan, in "the county and State of New York, have invented. a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the fol-1 lowing is a full, clear, and exact description. Our lnvention relates to improvementstin game apparatus designed to furnish indooramusement for a number of players and calculated to develop a certain amount of skill among the players inorder to successfully compete in the contest.

The structure embodies a table having at one end a yieldable bufier peculiarly fashioned to produce a plurality of carom-surfaces, and along both sides of the table are numbered pockets, formed, preferably, by strips which afiord track-surfaces for a rolling object. The pockets are in two series,

reversely inclined to each other and con verg- 7 ing toward the buffer, and at the mouth of each pocket is a yieldable deflector, such as a spring-pin. At one end of the table is a rail havinga number of pockets, and in front of this rail is an object-retainer which determines the point for placing the rolling ob;

ject, the latter adapted to be propelled by aone or any other suitable device.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which similar characters of reference indiapparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2

is a plan view thereof on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken centrally through the same.

5 designates the table, which is bounded by a marginal rail 6, extending continuously around the sides and ends. This table is supported in an inclined position, as shown by Fig. 3, and to this end we provide the table at one end with suitable knobs, legs, or feet 7. If desired, the table may be supported in a raised position by legs disposed at the corners thereof, and the legs at the head end of the table may be made adjustable in any suitable way for the purpose of varying the inclination of the table. The upper exposed surface of the table is covered by a layer of any suitable material-=-such asbaiz'e, felt, or thelike-indicated at 8, and at the head end of the table is arranged a yieldable buffer 9, the latter extending across the width of the table, This buffer maybe constructed in any suitable way;=but as shown more particularly by Fig. 3 said buffer consist-s of a yieldable strip or length of rubber 10, covered by a layer of suitable fabric 11. The inner edge of the buffer-strip is corrugated or otherwise fashioned to prod ucea plu rality of carom-surfaces 12. At the other end of the table from the yield-able bufier 9 isarranged an inside rail 13, secured firmly in place in any suitable way and provided on its inner e ge with a series of recesses forming a number of pockets 14, the pockets opening inwardly with respect to the table. These pockets should be nuin- 7o bored in a suitable way, and when a rolling object lodges in one of the numbered pockets the player is entitled to add the number of the pocket to his score. -The pockets 14 are so formed in the inside rail as to leave a numher of narrow ledges 15 intervening the pockets, and when the rolling object rests against one of these ledges the player is not en titled to add anything to his score. Said rail 13 is furthermore provided with a transverse recess 16, having a sloping bottom, as indicated in Fig. 3, said recess being disposed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the table and inclining downwardly and inwardly with respect thereto, whereby the recessi'is adapted to serve as a guide in moving a cue to strike against a rollingobject. Within themarginal rail at the sides of the table are provided the buffers 17, whichlinay be constructed in the same way as the bulfer 9and which 9o are arranged to join said buffer 9 and the inside rail 13. Stop-strips 18 are secured to the surface of the table toextend across the space between the buffer 9anid the marginal rail at the sides of the table, the inner portions of 5 said strips joining withth'ebuffer. 9.

One of theimportantfeatures of our invention resides in the employment of two series of reversely-inclined pockets or tracks, said series of pockets being disposed near the sides too of the table and-converging toward the buffer 9. As shown by the drawings, the inclined pockets are formed by two series of strips 19 20, the same being secured in any suitable way to the playing-surface 8 of the table. The strips of each series gradually increase in length from the buffer 9 toward the inside rail 13, and the strips are arranged so that their outer ends are equidistant substantially from the caromsurface 17, while the inner ends thereof project more and more toward the longitudinal axis of the table, as shown clearly by Fig. 2. The strips of each series are secured to the table in inclined positions and parallel to each other, and the strips of the two series are reversely inclined, the pockets or tracks being formed between ad jacent strips of the series. Defleeting-pins 21 are secured to the table adjacent the inner ends of the strips 19 20, said pins being disposed in two rows, which converge from the butter 9 toward the inside rail 13. The pins are shown as being arranged in alinement with the strips and removed a short distance therefrom; but the particular position of the pins is not material, because they may be arranged in any suitable way at the entrance or mouth of the pockets. The pins are preferably made of spring metal and secured to the table in a way to have a limited amount of play or movement, andthese pins lie in the path of the rolling object, so as to deflect or change the course thereof.

The table maybe equipped with an objectretainer 22, the same being of any suitable form and disposed in alinement with the guide-recess 16 of the inside rail. The rolling object 23 may be in the form of a marble or a cue-ball.

It is evident that the table may be made of any suitable size and dimensions and that various materials may be employed in the manufacture of the game apparatus.

In playing the game any suitable rules may be adopted, and any number of players may participate in the game. The first player should place the object 23 on the retainer 22, and the one may be manipulated to impel said object over the table toward the buffer 9. The object strikes against one of the carom-surfaces 12 of the buffer, from which it rebounds and enters one of the inclined pockets or the pocket 14 in the inside rail. The inclined pockets should be numbered progressively, beginning with the pockets adjacent to the buffer 9, and the entrance of the rolling object in any one of the numbered pockets entitles the player to add that numher to his score. The course of the rolling object may be changed by striking against the deflecting-pins 21; but the player should manipulate the rolling object so that it can enter the pocket of a high number. The buffers 17 at the sides of the table deaden the noise of the object in striking the side rails, and the inclination of the table insures the return of the rolling object toward the rail 13. The space between the buffers 17 and the inner ends of the inclined strips 19 2O may be closed near the rail 13 by suitable stop-strips 26, secured to the table. The object may lodge against one or the other of these strips, so as to be kept in a position within convenient reach of the player. If the object 23 lodges against one of the pins 21 or against one of the shoulders 15, the player is not entitled to increase the score.

The board is also provided near its side edges with longitudinal channels or grooves 27, which lie between the cushions 17 and the inner ends of the strips 19 20. These grooves prevent the rolling object from rebounding back from the cushions 17 into the pockets between the strips, and they insure the return of the object toward the strips 26 at a point within reach of the player.

In lieu of the deflecting-pins 21 we may provide each strip 19 or 20 with a yieldable tip of rubber or other material to serve as a deflector.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A game apparatus of the class described, comprising a table, a buffer having a caromsnrface, and two series of pockets, said series of pockets being inclined reversely to each other and converging toward the butter.

2. A game apparatus comprising a table, a buffer provided with carom-surfaces, and series of pockets converging toward the buffer and having open ends in facing relation to the carom-surfaces.

3. A game apparatus comprising a table, a buffer at one end of said table and having carom-surfaces, and two series of pockets adjacent to the sides of the table and converging toward the buffer.

t. A game apparatus comprising a table, a. buffer having carom-surfaces, and two series of strips inclined in converging relation toward the buffer, the strips of each series increasing in length progressively away from the buffer.

5. A game apparatus comprising a table, a butter having carom-surfaces, series of inclined pockets at the side portions of the table, and yieldable deflectors adjacent to the entrance to said pockets.

6. A game apparatus comprising an inclined table, a buffer having carom-surfaces, an end rail provided with pockets, two series of pockets inclined reversely to each other, and yieldable deflectors at the entrances to said inclined pockets.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES KOCH. JOSEPH FISCHER.

Witnesses:

JACOB T. MEYER, CHAS. Jones.

ICC 

